Railroad ballast reshaper and subgrade cleaner



H. W. MEESE July 6, 194?.

RAILROAD BALLAST RESHAPER AND SUB GRADE CLEANER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Filed 001:. 29 1941 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS y 1943- H. w. MEESE 2,323,343

, RAILROAD BALLAST RESHAlf-ER AND SUB GRADECLEANER Filed 00%. 29, 1941 e Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS wayzam az July 1943- H. w. MEESE 2,323,343

RAILROAD BALLAST RESHAPER AND SUB GRADE CLEANER Filed Oct. 29, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTO R N EYS July 6, 1943. 2,323,343

- RAILROAD BALLAST RESHAPER AND sua GRADE CLEANER H. w. MEESE s Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct; 29, 1941 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS y 1943- H. w. MEESE I 2,323,343

' RAILROAD BALLAST RESHAPER AND SUB GRADE CLEANER Filed Oct. 29, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 f/aivy hZ/Veese v Wkmjfmva July 6, 1943. H. MEESE I 2,323,343

RAILROAD BALLAST RESHAPER AND SUB GRADE CLEANER Filed Oct. 29 1941. 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 T Harry Mfi/eese ATTORNEYS Patented July 6, 1943 RAILROAD BALLAST RESHAPER AND SUBGRADE CLEANER Harry WlMeese, Meadville, Pa.

Application October 29, 1941, Serial No. 417,030

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in roadway shaping and trimming apparatus particularly adapted for reshaping the ballast and removing growth from the shoulder of railroad roadways and right of ways.

An important object of the invention is to provide roadway shaping and trimming apparatus of generally improved construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of shaping and trimming apparatus which is highly efficient for removing shoulder vegetation and ballast reshaping.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character which is designed to reduce the time and cost required for maintaining railroad roadways in proper condition.

of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout; I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the assembled apparatus,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View illustrating the gathering device thereof,

Figure 3 is an end view of the same,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the same,

Figure 5 is a side elevation looking from the inner side of the same,

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Figure '7 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line |-'l of Figure 1, Figure 8 is a top plan view of the cutting device,

Figur 9 is .a rear end elevational view of the same, 1

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the same as viewed from the outer side thereof,

Figure 11 is a transverse section taken on line ll-H of Figur 10,

Figure 12 is .a bottom plan view of one .of the cutting members,

Figure 13 is a transverse section taken on line l3-|3 of Figure 12, g I v Figure 14 is a top plan view of the raking device,

Figure 15 is a rear elevational View of the same,

Figure 16 is an end elevational view of the same,

Figure 1'? is a top plan view of a shaping device,

Figure 18 is a side elevational view of the same as viewed from the exterior of the apparatus,

and

Figure 19 is a rear View of-the same as viewed from the rear end of the apparatus.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred example of the invention, A generally designates a carrier, in the present instance in the form of a wheeled fiat car driven by or carrying a motor M and adapted for movement along the rails R mounted on the ties of a roadway which may comprise a ballast bed B sloping downward to a s'ubgrade mud shoulder S forming part of the right of way.

On the platform of the car A is mounted, rearwardly of the motor M, an upstanding hoist frame Fembodying a pair of end angle bars'25 secured in spaced relation along one margin of the car platform and shaped so that their upper ends converge. opposite end of the frame' in spaced relation on the opposed side margin of the platform. A pair of inclined angle bars 21 connect th transversely opposed bars at each side of the frame to brace the same while horizontal bars 28 connect the upper ends of the upright bars 25 and 26. In the upper part of the complementary front end frame bars 26 is journalled a tranversely arranged gudgeon 29 supporting on its intermediate portion a rotary pulley wheel 30. At lower portions on the bars 25 are fastened bearing brackets 3| in which is journalled a transversely extending shaft 32 prolonged at one end and bent to form an angular hand crank 33. On the shaft 32 is secured a winding drum 34 having attached thereto one end of a cable 35 trained over the pulley and having its outer end directedlaterally .of the car.

A similar frame G is mounted adjacent to and rearwardly of the aforementioned frame to act in concert therewith. These frames are operative to support and swing a cutter'device C. p

The cutter C embodies a frame section which may be shaped from a plate forming a longitudinal top flange 36 adjacentv a depending side flange 3'! from which are extended inclinedbars a plurality of inthe present instance three,

A similar pair of bars 26 forms the These cutting elements are advantageously dis posed at uniformly spaced circumferential positions to form a toothed cutting member. On the upper ends of the shafts 4| are secured sprocket wheels 41, an endless chain 48 connecting the sprocket of the outermost shaft with that of the intermediate shaft while an endless chain 49 is trained to connect a second sprocket on the latter shaft with a complementary sprocket on the innermost shaft. This chain and sprocket structure joins the shafts for simultaneous rotation.

An end shaft of this set is extended through an apertured element 59 forming a pivot eye attached to the projecting end of a bar 5| arranged parallel with a bar 52 and connected therewith by cross bars 53 to provide an extension frame section. In bearings 54 secured on the cross bars 53 is journalled a shaft 55 having a bevel gear 56 on one end in mesh-with a bevel gear 51 secured on a right angularly disposed shaft 58 journalled in a bearing 59 secured on the bar 5|. On the opposite end of the shaft 58 is secured a sprocket wheel 69. On the outer end of the shaft 55 is secured a bevel gear 6| disposed to mesh with a complementary bevel gear 62 fixed on the upper end of a cutter shaft 4| at the inner end of the cutter frame. To the outer end of the cutter frame is secured a veris rotatably mounted a wheel 61 having the periphery beveled to form a relatively sharp edge 68. Inner end portions of the bars 5| and 52 are bent to assume upwardly; directed angles and terminate in eye forming loops 69 disposed to embrace-transversely spaced portions of the pivot pin I9. I

The ends of this pin are engaged by the outer looped ends II of a pair of transversely disposed bars I2 of a support structure P, these bars being shaped so that their outer portions assume an having a sprocket wheel 19 secured on its intermediat portion and a second sprocket wheel 89 fixed on a projecting end portion thereof. An endless chain 8| connects the sprocket 89 with the sprocket 69. A chain 82 connects the sprocket 19 with a sprocket 83 secured on a shaft 84 rotatably supported in horizontal position below the car platform and having a second sprocket 85 fixed thereon; Over this latter sprocket is trained the lower portion of a chain 86 connecting with a sprocket 87 fixed on the driv shaft of the motor M.

To an angular arm 89 fastened on the main cutter frame section is connected, by a pivot 89,

upward inclination from the loops while the major lengths thereof, indicated I3, extend transversely over the top of the car platform and are secured thereon by studs 14. These straight lengths of the bars |2 mayadvantageously be provided with longitudinal slots for "II and disposed to extend transversely ofthe bottom of the car to which; they are likewise connected by studs I6 extending through slots in the bars. In bearings 'I'I fastened on the bars I5 M is journalled a transversely disposed shaft I8 the outer end of a rod section 99 complemental to a.rod section 9| fastened to the extension frame bar 5| by a pivot 92. The inner ends of these rod sections connect with head elements 93 forming parts of a pair of toggle link connections L, shown to an advantag at Figure 8. Each of these connections may embody collars 94 threadedly engaging the opposed'right and left hand thread sections of a screw element 95 and having two pair of oppositely directed links 96 disposed so that their outer ends are pivotally joined to the collars and their inner ends to a head 93 at on side and a connecting plate 9'! at the opposite side. Upon rotation of either or both of the screw swings 95, as through the instrumentality of a socket wrench or the like, the head 93 to which the rod sections are connected may be separated or contracted to lengthen or shorten the longitudinal dimension of these 'car platform. To a pair of brackets I92 secured on the frame plate 35 are connected cables I03 and I94 trained over the elevated pulleys 39 of the hoist frames F and G respectively, and attached to the winding drums 34 thereof for elevating the cutter frame assembly about the axis of the pivot 19.

On the forward portion of the car A is mounted a hoist apparatus H, similar to the hoist F, to be employed in conjunction with a gathering device generally indicated at O. This device is attached to the car through the medium of a support structure P corresponding to that connecting the cutting device with the car embodying the parallel upper bars 12 and the parallel lower bars I5 mounted transversely on the car platform and supporting, laterally, thereof, a pivot shaft 19. To this shaft are connected the inner looped ends I95 of a pair-of parallel bars I96 attached to an elongated I tapered gathering member 0. This member may be formed'from an elongated metallic plate bent at right angles on a diagonal line to form a triangular shaped bottom m bevelled at their forward ends At their outer endsthe attaching bars I06 are formed to'provide depending portions bolted or otherwise attached to the exterior of the flange I99. On

horizontal portions of the bars I96 is mounted a cross bar II2 carrying brackets II3 holding a gudgeon for a vertically disposed roller I I4. A

mally disposed in an approximately horizontalplane embodying longitudinal side bars H5 having fastened to their end portions a pair of transverse frame bars I I8 and I IT. The inner ends of the bars I I5 are bent to converge and are fastened to the diverging arms IIS of the Y-fitting II9, the elongated body plate I26 of which extends inwardly of the frame. On the outer portion of the plate I is secured an arcuate toothed rack I2I having upwardly disposed bevelled teeth forming a segmental gear. At the bottom ends of a pair of arms I22 depending from the end bars IIEI and ill of the frame are provided bearings I23 in which are journalled the ends of a longitudinally disposed shaft li t. On this shaft are secured a pair of longitudinally spaced disks I25 having attached thereto and extending axially therebetween, a plurality of rods E26 arranged at angularly spaced positions along the margins of the disks. In apertures formed at longitudinally spaced intervals in the rods I26 are fitted the inner ends of a plurality of pins I21 projecting radially from the rods to provide rows of rake teeth. On an end of the shaft I24 is secured a sprocket wheel I26 having trained thereover a drive chain I29 which connects with a sprocket I39 fixed on the shaft of a drive motor D. This motor is firmly mounted on a bed plate ISI secured transversely on side bars H5 of the rakin frame for rotating the raking reel.

The inner protruding portion of the rakin frame connects with an extension frame composed of a pair of transversely spaced parallel bars I32 of angular form, the inner upwardly directed ends of which are looped to form pivot knuckles I33 designed to embrace the pivot shaft If! of the support P mounted on the car at the footof the hoist K. The outer horizontal extensions of the bars i32 carry a pair of transverse brace bars I34 and I35, the latter having a central opening registering with an opening in the Y-fitting H9 and through which is extended a pivot stud I36 pivotally connecting the rake frame to the extension. On the cross bar I34 is secured a bearing I37 in which is journalled a stub shaft I38 having a protruding non-circular extension I39 at its inner end. On the outer end of this stub shaft is secured a bevel pinion I4II disposed to mesh with the segment gear I2I. It will be observed that the stub shaft I38 may be detachably connected with an extension shaft operable manually or by motor power to operate the gear and turn the raking frame about the axis of the pivot I36. To one side of the raking frame is connected an angular bracket element I4I provided with a socket in its lower depending portion for receiving therein the upwardly projected shank of a caster wheel yoke I42 carrying a rotary flat rimmed wheel M3 for reguslots I59 in the bars.

lating the height of the rake teeth I21 above the ground.

Another hoist L disposed rearwardly of and similar to the hoist structure K cooperates with a shaping device generally indicatedat T connected to the car through the medium of a support P as hereinbefore described. This device embodies a metallic plate shaped to form an elongated essentially rectangulartop wall I44 having a tapered lateral projection I45 at the outer side of its front portion. At one edge of this wall is formed a vertically depending flange I45 merging into an outwardly directed front flange extension I41. The forward portion of the top wall I44 is bent to assume an upward inclination and the front extension of the side flange i tapered accordingly, forming an enlarged upwardly and laterally flaring mouth structure. The top wall of this angular device is adjustably connected to a pair of extension bars I48 by nut-engaging studs I49 which extend through longitudinally directed The inner ends of the bars I48 are looped to form bearing knuckles embracing the transverse pivot element Iii of the shaper connecting support frame P. Between angular bracket sections I5I fastened on the top of the shaper body T is provided a roller I52 adapted for engagement with the outer end of a cable I53 of the hoist L. I

During operation of the apparatus the four devices comprising the assemblage are disposed in their normal downward positions and the car moved along the rails. The. initial roadside treating member, that is the gathering device 0, is moved along the ground so that the front toothed portion scrapes up the scattered particles of ballast and sweeps the same inwardly to a roughly straight edge at the margin of the ballast bed. The cutter device C following the gathering device is utilized to cut the growth, such as weedsand other vegetation, upon the sub grade shoulder of theroadway or right of way from the edge of the ballast bed outwardly. Thus, if the device is to cut the growth along a relatively narrow strip of'the ground at the side of the ballast bed, the outer main section of the cutter frame is disposed parallel with the rails and at right angles to the extension frame section; as shown at Fi ure 8, wherein it cuts a strip corresponding to the diameter ofthe cutters. If it is desired to cut the vegetation along a widerstrip of the shoulder, the cutter carrying frame section-is swung-outwardly. through operation of the screws 95.to expand the link mechanism and turn the frame so that its rearward portion projects later-,

ally of its inner portion with the frame at an obtuse angle with the extension section, as shown in dotted lines at Figure 8. This enables regulation of the width of the strip from which the vegetation is out by the heads of the cutter device. The wheel III of the cutter mechanism is rolled vertically to cut the vegetation at the outer edge of the trimmed strip so as to provide a sharp cutting line along the outer edge of this strip. The rotary raking device R following the cutter is designed to throw the cut vegetation from the cut strip of the shoulder and, with this in mind, the raker frame is turned from the transversely extending positions shown at Figures 1 and 14, to an angular position in accordance with the width of the cut on the shoulder so as to rake the cut growth outwardly of the cleared strip. The shaper device at the rear end of the car is moved so as to pack the loosely gathered ballast at the edge of the ballast bed into a compact sharply defined edge formation. In this manner, the roadway is efliciently trimmed and reshaped at a relatively rapid rate of movement so that the sides of the roadway may be maintained in safe, proper condition at a minimum of expense. 7

In addition to providing vertically adjustable supports for the devices of the apparatus, the hoist frames connected therewith through cables, in conjunction with the laterally projecting support frame structures pivotally connected with the respective devices, enable vertical elevation of the latter to upwardly directed positions for clearing bridges, culverts and various obstructions with a minimum of delay. These hoists are designed so that the respective devices of the apparatus may be swung upward to inoperative clearing position individually or simultaneously through operation of the winding drums thereof. In order that the hoists may be releasably locked to hold the device at a selected elevation, the drums thereof are advantageously equipped with ratchet wheels I54 in coacting relation with pawls I55 pivotally mounted on the hoist frame.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In ballast bed shaping apparatus an elongated member having a top plate and a depending flange at one longitudinal edge thereof, an upwardly inclined extension at the forward end of the top plate, and an outwardly directed angular extension at the forward end of the flange, said flange and top extensionmerging to form a flarin mouth portion.

2. In ballast bed shaping apparatus an elongated member having a top plate and a depending flange at one longitudinal edge thereof, an upwardly inclined extension at the forward end of the top plate, an outwardly directed angular extension at the forward end of the flange, said flange and top extension merging to form a flaring mouth portion, and means for mounting the said member in position for packing ballast at the edge of a ballast bed.

3. In ballast dressing apparatus, a carrier, means supported on the carrier for gathering scattered ballast toward the ballast bed, means mounted on the carrier operative to cut plant growth along the path cleared by the gathering means, and means mounted on the carrier rearscattered ballast toward the ballast bed, means mounted on the carrier operative to cut plant growth along the path cleared by the gathering means, means mounted on the carrier rearwardly of the cutter for firmly packing the outer edge of the ballast bed, and hoist means on the carrier operative to maintain the said gathering, cutting and packing means in selected operative positions and to elevate the said means to inoperative obstacle clearing positions.

5. In ballast dressing apparatus, a wheeled car,

.a gathering support extending laterally from the car, a member attached to the support operative to gather scattered ballast outwardly of theballast bed and to dispose the same along the outer edge of the bed, a cutter support projecting laterally from the car rearwardly of the gathering support, cutters operatively mounted on the cutter support disposed to cut plant growth along the path cleared by the gathering device, a raking device supported on and disposed laterally of the car for raking the severed growth behind the cutter, a support extending laterally from the car rearwardly of the raking device, and a packing member attached to the said last mentioned support operative to firmly pack the outer edge of the ballast bed.

6. In ballast dressing apparatus, a wheeled car, a gathering support extending laterally from the car, a member attached to the support operative to gather scattered ballast outwardly of the ballast bed and to dispose the same along the outer edge of the bed, a cutter support projectin laterally from the car rearwardly of the gathering support, cutters operatively mounted on the cutter support disposed to cut plant growth along the path cleared by the gathering device, a raking device supported on and disposed transversely of the car for raking the severed growth behind the cutter, a support extending laterally from the car rearwardly of the raking device, a packing member attached to the said last mentioned support operative to firmly pack the outer edge of the ballast bed, and hoist means mounted on the car having connection with the respective gathering, cutting, raking and packing devices operative to support the said devices in selected operative positions and to independently elevate the same to inoperative obstacles clearing positions.

HARRY W. MEESE. 

